University of North Carolina–Greensboro

Department of Human Development & Family Studies

Last Updated

December 5, 2016

The Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS), in the School of Health and Human Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service regarding human development and close relationships across the lifespan. Our objectives are to educate the next generation of HDFS professionals and scholars, to generate new knowledge, and to foster the well-being of individuals and families in their everyday lives.

As a premier HDFS department, we focus on the following areas: early care and education; child, youth, and family development; aging. Undergraduates can prepare for birth through kindergarten teacher licensure (as can our MEd graduate students) or focus on children's and adolescents' development in their diverse cultural, school, and family contexts. M.S. and doctoral students examine the biological, relational, early educational, social, and cultural foundations of development and their implications for families. The emphasis on "culture" includes not only different societies, but also within-society cultural groups, such as racial/ethnic and social class groups. We are committed to interdisciplinary study, diversity, and internationalization. Department Mission: The Department of Human Development and Family Studies seeks to enhance the quality of life for individuals across the lifespan within their diverse and changing relationships, families, social networks, and communities in varying contexts through (1) exceptional research and scholarship, (2) outstanding teaching and mentoring to prepare the next generation of professionals, and (3) active community engagement and intervention.

This program includes the study of the development of individuals and families throughout the life span, seeking to improve their well-being through the creation, use, and dissemination of knowledge. Our goal is to provide the best opportunity in North Carolina for undergraduates to prepare for careers in child, adolescent, adult, aging, and family care services; in business and community consumer services for families; in teaching at the preschool level; and in cooperative extension and state agencies.

Graduate Program

Graduate Director

Dr. Esther Leerkes

Graduate Courses Offered

Contemporary Research in Human Development

Theories of Human Development

Research Methods in HDFS

Contemporary Research in Family Studies

Family Theory

Administration of Early Childcare and Education

Preschool-Kindergarten Learning in Inclusive Settings

Infant-Toddler Learning in Inclusive Settings

Advanced Curriculum in Early Childhood Education

Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood Policy

Leadership and Mentoring in Educating Young Children

Theory and Research in Early Childhood

Advanced Research Design in HDFS

Families in Middle and Later Life

Contemporary Family Life

Divorce, Remarriage, Cohabitation

Close Relationships

Family Conflict

Parent-Child Relations

Psychobiology and Family Processes

Social and Emotional Development

Intellectual Development in Young Children

Infant Development

Seminar in Adolescence

Child Development in Cultural Context

Cross-cultural Perspectives on Families

Children, Poverty, and Public Policy

Immigrant Families

Race, Class, and Culture

African-American Families

Master's Level

Masters Program Options

PBC in Leadership in Early Childhood Education (LECE)

PBC in Birth-Kindergarten Initial Teaching Licensure Program (BKILP)

M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies

M.Ed. in Birth-Kindergarten: Interdisciplinary Studies in Education and Development (BKISED)

Concentration in Educational Leadership and Program Administration (LPA)

Masters Comments

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Level
The online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Birth through Kindergarten (BK) Initial Licensure Program (BK:ILP) provides graduate-level training for students with a bachelor's degree in early childhood or a related field seeking an initial North Carolina B-K teaching license. The certificate program requires 20 semester hours and is offered jointly by the departments of Human Development and Family Studies and Specialized Education Services.

Master's Level
The M.S. program (thesis) prepares students to teach in junior/community colleges and to take leadership roles in developing and evaluating the effectiveness of community programs for children and families. The M.S. degree program also provides training toward the Ph.D. degree. The M.Ed. program prepares students for diverse roles in educational and community settings. The program calls for a minimum of 39 semester hours of course work and prepares graduates for diverse roles in educational and community settings.

Doctoral Level

Doctoral Program Options

Human Development and Family Studies

Families in Transition Specialization

Unstructional Theory in Early Childhood Education Specialization

Sociocultural Context in HDFS Specialization

Development of Academic Achievement Dispositions in Children Specialization

Parenting Across the Lifecouse Specialization

Men in Families Specialization

Intervention and Prevention Strategies with Families Specialization

Doctoral Comments

The Ph.D. program can lead to careers in research, college or university teaching, or to leadership positions in federal or state agencies or in public and private institutions.

CFLE Information

NCFR recognizes schools offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs with course work that follows the Standards and Criteria required for approval as a Provisional Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE). NCFR approval allows the school to offer their graduates the opportunity to apply for Provisional Certification using the Abbreviated Application process. The CFLE Checklist represents the courses that meet the CFLE criteria at that school. Students must complete all the courses on a checklist in order to qualify to apply for the CFLE designation through the Abbreviated Application process.